NEXT MEETING: May 21 VIRTUAL MEETING Check your email for an invitation VOL. 63 NO. 5 MAY 2020

A Lehigh Valley passenger train coming off the Hemlock Branch and arriving at Rochester Jct., sometime in the 1930s. This view looks east from inside the interlocking tower, with the station behind the photographer. The branch to Rochester also connected here. This self-propelled gas-electric motorcar is towing an unpowered coach trailer, common for branch lines without a lot of traffic. The last regular Hemlock Branch passenger service to Lima was discontinued on August 9, 1937. Photographer and date unknown. courtesy anthracite railroads historical society We Will Return As the calendar flips over to May, our awnings for the windows. Our Fairbanks- museum remains closed to the public as Morse diesel is being prepared for service. we await guidance from our state and local On the equipment side, our new governments on when it will be safe to Shuttlewagon SX430 car mover was reopen. It’s very unusual for the museum delivered at the end of April, acquired from campus to be devoid of regular activity at RED Rochester at Kodak Park. Our two INSIDE this time, but we must do everything we RG&E bucket trucks were sold, and a newer can to keep safe and reduce the rate of truck was acquired in its place. Repairs to infection. our Jackson Tamper are continuing as well. New Shuttlewagon. . 3 Museum volunteers have not been As soon as we receive clear guidance, we entirely idle during this time, however. will announce our revised 2020 schedule Lehigh Valley. . . . .4 Small individual project work has continued of events at the museum. We have some on a limited basis. The men’s bathroom challenges that lie ahead, but working Harold J. Spindler. . .5 floor has received its first coat of varnish, together we can overcome anything. and refurbished corner sinks have been We want to keep you all connected BR&P History. . . . .6 delivered. Replacement end ladders have during this difficult time. Your ideas for been fabricated and installed on the Lehigh future programs are welcome. Please email Valley caboose. Additional details have me at [email protected] or call me at been completed for the Buffalo, Rochester (585) 820-2341. & Pittsburgh caboose, including a new heat —Otto M. Vondrak, shield for the stove, and replacement drip Museum President

ROCHESTER & GENESEE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM • RGVRRM.ORG www.rgvrrm.org 2020 SCHEDULE R&GV Railroad Museum P.O. Box 23326 The museum remains closed to the public through Rochester, NY 14692-3326 May 15, 2020. We will announce our new schedule as President soon as conditions permit and restrictions are lifted. Otto M. Vondrak (585) 820-2341 [email protected]

Vice President Peter Gores

Treasurer Dave Peet

Recording Secretary David Kehrer

Corresponding Secretary Jeremy Tuke

Trustees Rob Burz David Kaiser Adam Lloyd Joe Nugent David Scheiderich David Shields Mark Wilczek Our first “Virtual Meeting” was held on April 16 using the Zoom platform, attended by more than 50 members locally and around the country. Jeremy Tuke (below) gave a brief introduction to collecting lanterns, followed by a slide show of museum restoration activities by Otto Vondrak.

The official publication of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum

Volume 63, No. 5

EDITOR Otto M. Vondrak

PRINTING AND MAILING Dave Peet

©2020 Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. The Semaphore is published monthly by the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Electronic distribution by e-mail is free. First-Class mailing is available for $7.00 a year. Non-member mailed subscriptions are $12.00 and run from January 1 to December 31. Member meetings are held the third Thursday of each month, and the Board of Trustees meets the first Thursday of each month. Any items related to the activities of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, and regional railroad history and current events are gladly accepted for publication.

2 • MAY 2020 • THE SEMAPHORE MUSEUM CONTACT INFO

MUSEUM PRESIDENT Otto Vondrak (585) 820-2341 [email protected]

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS SUPT. Charlie Marks (585) 637-4271 [email protected]

MECHANICAL SUPT. Joe Nugent (585) 944-1047 [email protected]

OPERATIONS SUPT. Frank Gough (585) 703-4476 [email protected]

TRACK AND RIGHT-OF-WAY SUPT. David Kehrer (585) 576-3843 [email protected]

CONSTRUCTION SUPT. 21 TONS OF FUN: Meet the newest addition to our Motive Power Dept., a 1998 Shuttlewagon Scott Gleason SWX340, acquired from RED Rochester, operators of the power generating stations at Kodak Park. (585) 406-6484 [email protected] This versatile piece of equipment will be used in light duty around our shop.

INTERIM PUBLIC RELATIONS SUPT. Otto Vondrak of its visitors, volunteers, and members. NEW SINKS FOR (585) 820-2341 [email protected] Over the last few weeks, we have taken DEPOT BATHROOMS MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN every precaution in accordance with state As part of our bathroom restoration and Sam Rosenberg and local authorities. However, with new rebuilding project, two corner sinks (one [email protected] guidance issued by the Centers for Disease original, one replacement) were recently Control to cancel or postpone in-person restored with new porcelain by Miracle PROGRAM CHAIRMAN VACANT events and large gatherings of 50 people Method Surface Refinishing of Rochester, or more throughout the , we and delivered in March. Rob Burz made have made the decision to close the mu- additional repairs to the floor of the men’s seum to the public until May 15. We will room, and Charlie Marks began putting UPCOMING be canceling all public meetings and events down the first coat of floor finish. Thanks MONTHLY PROGRAMS in March and April in the interest of public to the Davenport Hatch Foundation for Due to restrictions on large gatherings, health and safety. funding this phase of construction, we look New York State’s recent stay-at-home Like you, we are anxiously awaiting in- forward to reopening the bathrooms to the order, and the temporary closure of the structions from our state government that public later this year. 40&8 Club, our monthly meetings will will let us know when it is safe to reopen move to virtual space. An email invitation the museum to volunteers and to the public. BUFFALO, ROCHESTER & PITTSBURGH will be sent to all members to join a special We look forward to seeing you all again as CABOOSE 280 UPDATE meeting on-line for May 21! Programs soon as possible. A new shield that will protect the interior and presenters will be announced via wall from the heat put out by the stove pipe email. Ideas for future programs would be SHUTTLEWAGON SWX430 was fabricated by volunteer Bill Marcotte, welcome. I’m pleased to announce the museum has following photographs of original installa- Your museum is seeking a new acquired a 1998 Shuttlewagon SWX430 tions in other cabooses. Bill is also fabri- chairman for the Programs Committee. car mover from RED Rochester at Kodak cating small exterior awnings for the win- This person would coordinate with Park. This rail vehicle, weighing in at 21 dows. Brake pipe fittings and new air pipes program presenters, and make sure tons, will be used to shuffle cars around at are being reconditioned and fabricated so audio-visual equipment is available and our shop building. It is equipped with full the conductor’s air valve can be re-installed functioning for each meeting. If you are size couplers and train air, and powered by near the cupola once again. —Jeremy Tuke interested in volunteering, or would like to a Cummins 6BTA 5.9 diesel, so it will be learn more, please contact Otto Vondrak at more than capable of moving our equip- NEW END LADDERS FOR [email protected]. ment safely and efficiently. This car mov- LEHIGH VALLEY 95100 er was built in 1998, which should make Volunteer Bill Marcotte completed the MUSEUM CAMPUS CLOSED it serviceable—and supportable—for many installation of replica end ladders on April TO PUBLIC UNTIL MAY 15 years to come. We will offer training to op- 30, using bar stock and grab irons donated The first priority of the Rochester & Gen- erators once the museum reopens. by member Bernie Beikirch. These short esee Valley Railroad Museum is the safety —Joe Nugent, Motive Power Supt. end ladders were removed once

RGVRRM.ORG • MAY 2020 • 3 RIGHT: Sam Rosenberg pre-lubed and fired up our former U.S. Army H12-44 diesel on April 25, to get the engine ready for use later this season. This locomotive joined our fleet of historic trains in 1993, after enjoying a 40-year career working at the nearby Seneca Army Depot.

BELOW: Volunteer Bill Marcotte tightens the last bolt securing the grab irons to the ladder uprights on the south end of LV 95100 on May 2. These ladders were torched off by Conrail after 1976. As part of our restoration, we fabricated replicas using materials donated by member Bernie Beikirch.

BELOW RIGHT: Jeremy Tuke restored this New York Central “Resume Speed” sign donated to our museum by Devan Lawton. The sign was sandblasted and painted green. The lettering was made from stencils cut by member Chris Hauf, working from his new residence in California! jeremy tuke photo

took ownership of the caboose, complying Vice President Finance, and William S. nated funds and well on its way to being re- with new 1970s federal regulations de- Renchard, PRR Vice President Sales, were stored to its late-1970s appearance. And fi- signed to keep railroad employees off the named to the LV board in June 1962. The nally, 40-foot boxcar 62300 joined the fleet roof of equipment where they could possi- railroad continued to limp along, feeling in 2019, thanks to a generous donation by bly fall and get seriously hurt. the effects of the loss of anthracite coal traf- Genesee Valley Transportation. We’ve got —Sam Rosenberg, Project Mgr. fic. After 1968, Lehigh Valley was kept on great plans for our LV fleet in 2021, and the books so that Penn Central could write we look forward to your support! —O.M.V. ON THIS DATE: off its losses against its own. On April 1, 1976, LV rolled off into the history books U.S. ARMY ACQUIRES LEHIGH VALLEY and became a part of Conrail. FAIRBANKS-MORSE 1843 The Interstate Commerce Commission Our museum is fortunate to have signif- Sam Rosenberg successfully pre-lubed authorized the Pennsylvania Railroad to icant examples of LV rolling stock in our and started up USA 1843 for the first time acquire control of Lehigh Valley Rail- collection. Chief among them is Lehigh this season on April 25. Sam has also been road through stock ownership on May 17, Valley RS-3m 211, built in 1953 as PRR working on tracing issues with the locomo- 1962. The Pennsy wasted little time exud- 8445. It joined the LV roster in 1970, and tive’s electrical systems and battery voltage ing its influence over its new subsidiary. was retired by Conrail in 1981. The engine regulator for more reliable operation. On May 23, 1962, PRR President Allen J. joined our museum fleet in 1985, and was Greenough was also elected President and restored to LV colors in 1990. Caboose VISIT US ONLINE Director of the LV. David C. Bevan, PRR 95100 arrived in 2011, purchased with do- FACEBOOK.COM/RGVRRM

4 • MAY 2020 • THE SEMAPHORE “MEN OF ERIE” In response to a query made on Facebook, Mark O’Neill provided these photos of his grandfather Harold J. Spindler who worked for the Erie Railroad in Rochester for many years. Spending a couple hours sleuthing online, I was able to paint a pic- ture of Spindler’s railroad career. Harold J. Spindler began his career with the Erie Railroad as a stenographer at Mt. Jewett, Pa., in 1915, pausing only briefly to serve in World War I. The next mention of his railroad career came in April 1921 as Chief Clerk at Bradford, Pa., returning from an unspecified leave of absence (pos- sibly related to his military service). He transferred to the Division Freight Agent’s office in August 1922. By July 1925, he was Chief Clerk for the General Freight Agent at Buffalo, N.Y. On March 19, 1927, Harold married Do- ris L. Willard. He was later named Com- mercial Agent for Buffalo in May 1929. In 1942 he made a move to Rochester as Commercial Agent, a position he kept for five years. He departed for Peoria, Ill., in August 1947 to take the position as Gen- eral Agent there. Upon his return to Roch- ester in March 1951, he was promoted to Division Freight Agent, succeeding Hebert C. Well who transferred to Elmira. Har- old himself later moved to Elmira to take on another promotion in February 1951. While in Elmira, he was a member of the Erie Traffic Committee, chairman of the Railroad Community Committee of the Southern Tier (founded in 1957 with rep- resentatives from area railroads), and was also a sought-after public speaker on topics relating to the railroad industry. On July 1, 1953, Mr. and Mrs. Spindler helped chris- TOP: Division Freight Agent Harold J. Spindler is ten Erie Railroad tugboat Elmira with oth- looking into the camera during an event at Erie’s er railroad officials at the Bethlehem Steel Exchange Street Yard in downtown Rochester, shipbuilding yards at Staten Island. sometime in 1951 or 1952. The Rundel Library By 1960, he was promoted to Division can be seen in the background behind caboose C246 (same class as our C254). ABOVE: Harold’s Sales Manager. After 46 years of service, wife Doris and daughter Joan. That caboose Harold retired from Erie Lackawanna on is only about five years old in this photo, all- June 30, 1961. Harold Spindler passed welded construction built at Dunmore Shops. away on April 1, 1974. His grandson Mark RIGHT: Harold served as General Freight Agent O’Neill currently resides with his family in Peoria, Ill, from 1947 through 1951, seen here posing with Rock Island observation car Peoria in Connecticut, and we are grateful he was on the rear of the Peoria Rocket. able to share these photos with us. —Otto M. Vondrak

RGVRRM.ORG • MAY 2020 • 5 BR&P’s End

of the Line A smart party of gentlemen enjoy the view from the rear of Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway observation car 203 in this undated photo. salamanca rail museum collection The year 2020 will mark the official debut facilitated by Rochester coal merchant controlling interest in the BR&P to the of our restored Buffalo, Rochester & Pitts- Arthur G. Yates, partner in Bell, Lewis & B&O, in exchange for B&O’s share of the burgh Railway caboose 280. Built in 1923 Yates Coal Co. Yates was responsible for Wheeling & Lake Erie. Application was and retired in 1974, it was the first piece of the construction of the coal dock at Char- made to the ICC for B&O to acquire the equipment to arrive at our museum campus lotte in 1896, which accounted for a large BR&P as well as Buffalo & Susquehanna, at Industry. Aside from being the progen- portion of the railroad’s exports. Yates Coal citing a savings from joint operation of itor of our museum collection, the BR&P Co. was acquired by the Rochester & Pitts- more than $300,000 a year, and consoli- holds a special place in the hearts of our burgh Coal Company the same year, shar- dation of services and facilities with B&O community of railroad enthusiasts and his- ing office space in the BR&P headquarters would save upwards of $400,000 a year. torians. It is said that the genesis of what building on West Main Street in Rochester. Approval from the ICC came on November would become the BR&P began in nearby When Iselin resigned as president of the 19, 1931. As a result, B&O was directed to Mumford, when merchants Oliver Allen II, railroad, Yates took his place. The railroad acquire all remaining BR&P stock that was Donald McNaughton, and Rochester attor- continued to expand its operations, includ- privately held. Stock was valued at $100 a ney D.D.S. Brown campaigned business ing a carferry across from Charlotte across share, and more than 99% of the outstand- leaders and government officials to back a Lake Ontario to Coburg, Ontario. ing shares were now owned by the compa- new railroad project connecting Rochester While lucrative for many years, the do- ny. On January 1, 1932, the BR&P became with the coal fields of Pennsylvania. The mestic coal market was in turmoil in the the Buffalo-Rochester District of the B&O. resulting Rochester & State Line Railroad period following World War I. In 1928, the Coal once again became lucrative traffic opened in 1874, and featured many prom- acquired the ma- for the former BR&P lines especially as the inent residents of Wheatland on its board. jority of BR&P stock, and aligned the rail- postwar economic boom took hold of the By 1879, William Vanderbilt had ac- road with its holdings in the Chesapeake & nation. Passenger traffic was another story, quired majority stock control of the R&SL, Ohio, , and Erie Railroad however. The Rochester Division hosted briefly placing the line under the New York through their . its last passenger train in 1953, while the Central’s sphere of influence. As revenue In 1929, the Interstate Commerce Com- Buffalo Division service lasted until 1955. declined, the company defaulted on its mission released a report recommending In 1960, Chesapeake & Ohio offered to bonds, and the railroad was sold at foreclo- consolidation among the nation’s railways acquire majority stock control of B&O, a sure in 1881. The company was reorganized to create new trunk systems and preserve transaction approved by the ICC in 1961 as the Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad. competition. The report suggested that and actually took place in February 1963. Aggressive expansion in the Pennsylva- Baltimore & Ohio absorb the BR&P and When B&O was met with local opposition nia coalfields and the modernization of the neighboring Buffalo & Susquehanna, along to its plan to expand and modernize the physical plant and rolling stock stretched with the Reading and Jersey Central, plus operations at Charlotte, the coal docks fell the new company to the limit. Foreclosed half-interests in the Monon; Detroit Toledo silent after the last boat was loaded on No- again in 1885, the new company emerged & Ironton; Detroit & Toledo Short Line; vember 12, 1970. as the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh and Chicago & Alton. In 1973, the C&O, B&O, and Western Railway, financed by New York banker At one time the B&O took a serious in- Maryland Railway joined forces as Chessie Adrian Iselin and his family. terest in creating a new trunk line connect- System—but the railroads did not merge. Coal became the primary commodity ing the Midwest with . In While the railroads continued to operate as carried by BR&P, in part influenced and 1930, the Van Sweringens sold their 85% separate companies, they were all unified

6 • MAY 2020 • THE SEMAPHORE under common management and the mod- BR&P company survived to the present As of May 7, 2013, one share of stock ern Chessie image. Western Maryland was day. Old railroad names die hard. Because in the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh first to fall, taken over by B&O on May 1, there were still shareholders with a mi- Railway was valued at $874. With this 1983. On April 30, 1987, B&O itself faded nority interest in the company, the BR&P payment, CSX Transportation became the into the history books when it was merged continued to exist. By 2013, there was in sole owner of the BR&P, and could final- into C&O. This was all in preparation for fact only one BR&P stockholder in addi- ly absorb the company. On October 16, merger with Seaboard System to create tion to CSX, whose holdings amounted to 2013, the directors of CSX Transportation CSX Transportation on August 31, 1987. just one share of common stock. Not just approved the merger agreement. The direc- And what of the Rochester & Pittsburgh any shareholder, Walston Hill Brown was tors of the BR&P approved the same agree- Coal Company? The Iselin family retained an investment banker who helped finance ment on October 28, and it was filed with control of the company and continued to and organize the Rochester & Pittsburgh the Surface Transportation Board on No- grow long after the association with BR&P Coal Co. in 1881, and also took control of vember 21, 2013. With no objections from was severed. Consol Energy purchased the Rochester & State Line Railroad with the STB, the merger was authorized to take R&P in 1998, including the lucrative Key- Adrian Iselin to form what would become place on December 21, 2013. The route of stone and Helvetia mines in Pennsylvania. the BR&P. Brown died in 1928 before he “Safety and Service” was no more. As Chessie System prepared for the CSX could cash in on the B&O’s 1932 tender of- While the Buffalo, Rochester & Pitts- merger, the railroads looked to shed mar- fer of $100 per share. During the following burgh Railway ran its last train at the end ginal secondary lines. In fact, B&O made years, all other outstanding stock was ac- of 1931, and the corporation ceased to an application to the ICC in 1975 to aban- quired by the B&O, leaving Brown’s estate exist in 2013, rest assured the railroad’s don the BR&P between LeRoy and Ma- as the only minority owner. rich history will live on. The corporate re- chias in 1976, which was denied. In 1985, After over two decades of maintaining cords of the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Genesee & Wyoming launched the Roches- the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh as a Co. (which also includes a good portion of ter & Southern to operate the former BR&P corporation, with its regulatory reporting BR&P related material) are maintained at from Rochester to Salamanca, and in 1988 requirements and related administrative the library of Indiana University of Penn- Buffalo & Pittsburgh was formed to oper- costs, CSX Transportation finally decided sylvania. Official B&O records from the ate from Buffalo, through Salamanca, to to take action in an effort to relieve itself Buffalo and Rochester divisions from 1920 New Castle, Pa. (Pittsburgh). Unfortunate- of this burden. through 1977 are maintained at Penn State ly, R&S was severed as a through route Under the Abandoned & Unclaimed University’s library at University Park. A when the segment from Silver Springs to Property Act in the state of Pennsylvania small number of records also reside with Machias was abandoned in 1991. The line (where the BR&P had been incorporated), the B&O Museum in Baltimore. from Ashford Jct. to Buffalo was petitioned CSX was permitted to make payment to Aside from the artifacts maintained by for abandonment by B&P in 1998, with all the state’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property, our museum and by numerous private col- traffic shifted to the parallel Conrail line in lieu of actually buying out the one share lectors, our visitors will be able to enjoy a between Machias and Buffalo. The line of BR&P stock owned by Brown. ride aboard restored BR&P caboose 280 from Orchard Park to West Valley was later After an exhaustive search for the heirs later this year. abandoned and ripped out. or beneficiaries of the Brown estate, CSX Perhaps you assumed, as many did, determined that none could be located, and —Thanks to David Hamilton who wrote that the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh arranged for the State of Pennsylvania to “End of the Line for the BR&P Railway,” Railway ended in 1932. As an operating receive payment for the outstanding share for Key, Lock & Lantern Issue #173, Janu- entity, it ceased to be. But on paper, the of BR&P stock. ary-March 2014.

RGVRRM.ORG • MAY 2020 • 7 PLAN AHEAD: May 21, 2020 VIRTUAL MEETING

PLAN AHEAD: June 18, 2020 TO BE ANNOUNCED

Richard Martin photographed Lehigh Valley 211 leading a local freight past his family’s farm in Batavia, NY., on June 24, 1971. The locomotive had only been on the LV roster for about a year in 1971. “I didn’t know at the time how famous this engine would become,” Richard said. photo by richard martin